Maid to Love

by Jennifer Johnson

  She needed to cling to God and what He desired and not what she thought would be best for her. God, I seek You daily. I long to always be in Your will. I trust You with my job search.

  She thought of Peter and how he was able to walk on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus; and the father who’d begged Jesus to heal his son, but when Jesus told him to believe, the man responded by asking Christ to help his unbelief. She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. Help me trust You even when I get anxious and start not trusting You.

  She opened her eyes and looked at the kitchen clock. Her family would be awake in a matter of minutes. At already half past five in the morning, Addy was surprised her dad and Drew weren’t already rummaging around in the kitchen. Val would be here in only a few hours as well. Addy looked forward to visiting with her past roommate, but she hated they’d be at the church for the workday the entire morning and most of the afternoon. But Val had insisted she would enjoy helping.

  “You’re up early, aren’t you?”

  Addy turned at the sound of her brother’s voice. “Yep. You ready for the workday?”

  Drew stretched his arms over his head then scratched his mop of blond hair. “I suppose I better be. It’s all Nick’s talked about for weeks.”

  Addy’s insides warmed at the mention of Nick’s name. Cleaning his house had been easier than she’d expected the last few weeks. She found herself learning more about the man he’d become, like that he was faithful to separate his laundry when he took off his clothes in the evening and that he kept the pantry stocked with bottled water and various cans of stew.

  But what she loved the most that she’d learned was that either in the morning or the evening he spent time with the Lord. The proof was in the checkmarks on a read-the-Bible-in-a-year pamphlet that sat beside his worn Bible on the bedroom nightstand. Though tempted, she never read the notes he’d written around the checkmarks, but the knowledge that they were there encouraged Addy’s attraction for the man.

  “Addy?”

  Realizing she’d ignored her brother’s response, Addy blinked and looked at him. “I’m pretty excited myself. We have all the materials we need, and I think the kids will really love it.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  Addy felt her cheeks and ears warm as her brother cocked his head and studied her. She punched his arm. “What’s that look for?”

  He squinted at her. “You can’t possibly still have a thing for Nick Martin.”

  “What?” She huffed and swatted the air. “I think I’ve grown quite past the years of crushes, thank you very much.”

  Drew scratched the stubble on his chin. “Hmm. That might be why Nick’s been so fired up about this project.” He looked her up and down. Addy wanted to punch him in the face when he squinted and scowled. “You know you’re not the pipsqueak you used to be.”

  She needed to stay calm. Drew would know if she threw a fit. Anger had always been a telltale sign that he’d gotten her in the right spot. She rolled her eyes and purposely pushed down the thrill she felt that Drew thought Nick might have grown to have feelings for her. “Drew—”

  “He better not be thinking of you like that, because I will pummel him if he thinks about hurting my sister. He may be my friend, but. . .”

  Addy stared at her brother. Anger etched his face in the most Neanderthal form she’d ever seen. Like he had a say about who liked her and whom she liked. She’d spent her life having to listen to Drew try to tell her what to do. Since he was older and bigger and won at absolutely everything, she was always stuck doing whatever it was Drew wanted.

  Feeling frustrated and aggravated and a need to just—just scream for her daddy to make Drew stop being such a bully, she punched him in the arm again. “Cut it out, Drew. You’re being ridiculous. I’m going upstairs to get a shower.”

  Addy turned away from her brother and practically raced up the stairs. Drew had a way of making her feel like such a baby, and she hated it. Besides, the very idea that Nick Martin would start to have feelings for her wreaked havoc on her heart and mind. God, I’m too old for all these silly teenage feelings and wonderings. Help me not to worry about Nick. And yet, in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but hope he might be starting to care for her.

  ❧

  Nick was done with the foolishness. Today was the church’s workday. As soon as they finished, they’d have a potluck dinner. At that time, he was going to ask Addy on a date. He’d pondered it and prayed about it. He was attracted to Addy for many reasons. She was pretty. She was kind. She was giving. And most importantly, she loved the Lord. She had everything he’d want in a woman, even if he’d never really thought about what he would want.

  The only thing that’s stopped me from asking her is that ridiculous bet. Though competitive to his core, Nick had decided he was willing to lose. If it meant having the opportunity to get to know Addy as a woman, he would happily be the second of the four to give in.

  Having already taken most of the supplies to the church, he tossed a couple of 24-packs of water bottles into the bed of his truck. He knew the ladies took care of the food and drinks, but a man could at least bring some water to help out. After checking once more to ensure he had everything he needed, Nick hopped into the truck and headed toward the church.

  The morning was especially warm for early June, but the land seemed to bask in the sun’s warmth. With his window down, Nick was able to drink in the fresh smell of late spring. After several days of rain in May, nature was in full bloom with hills covered with grass that waved in the breeze. Trees were adorned in their full foliage. Birds flew on and off the branches, singing their songs of praise. “A farmer can’t help but look at all this and know You exist, Lord.”

  He passed over the creek they used to play in when they were all kids. Nick remembered how he and Drew used to run as fast as they could through the creek to get away from Addy. Now he’d run after her. It was funny how things changed.

  After pulling into the church’s parking lot, Nick searched the buildings for Addy. He wanted to show her the four- and five-year-olds’ classroom.

  “Hey man, you ready to work?”

  Nick turned at the sound of Mike’s voice. He shook hands with his friend. “Of course. Are you?”

  He patted the hammer that hung from his belt. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Drew was looking for you.”

  “Nick, we need to talk.” Drew’s voice sounded from his left.

  “Sure thing.” Nick looked at him. “What’s up?”

  “Do you have a thing for my sister?”

  Nick gawked at his friend, who seemed quite agitated. He peeked at Mike, who’d puckered his lips and lifted his hands in surrender. Nick looked back at Drew and squinted. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “That means you better not be playing games with my sister.” Drew crossed his arms in front of his chest. “We may be friends, but she’s my sister, and I won’t have you—”

  Nick widened his stance, crossing his own arms in front of his chest. “Won’t what?”

  “Nick, Drew, I need your help for a minute.” Addy waved to them from the top of the two-level parking lot.

  Nick glared at Drew. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  “Yes, we will,” Drew said as he walked toward his sister.

  Nick followed Drew, matching him stride for stride. I don’t know who Drew thinks he is, accusing me, acting like I’d do anything to hurt Addy. The notion infuriated and hurt him. As long as they’d been friends, Drew should know Nick would never lead Addy on. He’d never encouraged her crush years ago.

  Reaching her car, he and Drew carried the supplies she needed help with into the church. Nick hadn’t even considered Drew not approving of him dating Addy. The very idea grated him. They’d been friends since they were knee-high. Surely Drew thinks more of me. I’d never hurt anyone in his family.

  Drew’s reaction, when he hadn’t even told anyone he was interested in dating Addy, made him wonder what his
parents would think. What her parents would think. Their moms had been best friends for more years than they’d been married to their dads. When he, Addy, and Drew were kids, they’d ventured to each other’s houses for one get-together or another. In truth, he hadn’t dreamed either family would be opposed.

  Before Nick could say anything else, Drew marched back down to the lower parking lot, as Addy walked up beside him. “Thanks, Nick.” She pointed to a tall, dark-haired girl he’d never seen before. “Nick, this is my roommate from college, Val.”

  He nodded and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Wow. You are awfully handsome.”

  “Val!” Addy swatted her friend’s arm, and Nick noted a tinge of pink rising up her neck.

  Her friend winked. “Just telling it like I see it.”

  Nick looked at Addy, wondering if the blush meant she’d told Val she thought Nick was good-looking or if she was just embarrassed her friend would say that. Admittedly Nick hoped it was the former. He grabbed Addy’s arm and led her toward the four- and five-year-olds’ room. “I need to show you something.”

  “Okay.”

  He opened the door and watched as Addy took in his handiwork.

  She smiled. “It’s already painted. Green on the bottom half. Blue on the top. Just as I wanted.”

  His heart swelled at the sound of approval in her voice. “I stayed after on Wednesday and painted it. I knew you wouldn’t be able to start on the mural today with wet paint. I thought I’d give you a room to start in.”

  Addy wrapped her arms around him, and Nick felt his knees go weak. A sweet, soft scent from her hair rushed into his nostrils, making him lightheaded. She let him go, and he felt empty. He wanted to hold her longer. “Thanks so much, Nick.” She grabbed her friend’s hand. “Let’s go get my paint.”

  ❧

  Addy stepped away from the wall to inspect her design. A large ark rested in a grassy area. The ark’s door was open, with pairs of animals exiting it. She’d drawn a pair of elephants, giraffes, monkeys, tigers, horses, and more. Several kinds of birds, including two doves, sat atop the ark. Noah and his wife stood in front of the ark, holding hands and smiling. The sun and a rainbow shone above them, and Addy still planned to stencil the scripture “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth” in the sky.

  She turned toward Val. “So, what do you think?”

  “It’s amazing.”

  “More than amazing.”

  Addy twisted around at the sound of Gracie’s voice. “Gracie.” She wrapped her in a hug. “I didn’t think you were going to be able to make it today.”

  “I didn’t either.”

  Addy released her friend. Gracie’s coloring was still pale, and deep bags hung beneath her eyes. She touched Gracie’s hand, trying to believe the doctor’s words that many women spend only the first trimester of pregnancy quite ill. “You didn’t have to come.”

  Gracie smiled. “Yes I did.” She looked at Val. “It’s nice to see you again, Val. I know Addy’s glad you came.”

  “I’m glad to be here. Watching Addy create a mural has been a lot of fun.”

  Addy wiped her hands on an old towel. “You’ve been a lot of help.” She turned back to Gracie. “But you don’t need to make yourself any sicker.”

  “I’m going crazy sitting at home, alternating between hugging the toilet or racing to the wastebasket. I needed some sunshine and fellowship.” She covered her nose and mouth with her hand. “But I don’t think I’ll last long with these paint fumes.”

  “We need a break anyway.” Addy motioned for them to follow her out the door. “Let’s go check to see how they’re doing with the playground.”

  “Yeah. I think that’s a great idea. Maybe that absolutely adorable Nick Martin will be down there.” Val winked at Addy and Gracie.

  Gracie frowned. “Addy’s always liked Nick Martin. You shouldn’t—”

  Val patted Gracie’s shoulder. “I know about her lifelong Nick Martin crush. I’m only teasing her.”

  Addy shushed her friends as she looked down the hall to ensure no one was listening to their conversation. “He is not my Nick Martin, and that crush ended several years ago.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Val nudged Gracie’s arm. “Wait till you see the way he looks at her.”

  Gracie giggled. “Oh, I’ve seen it. And she keeps saying she doesn’t still care for Nick, but I’ve known her all my life and—”

  “I’m leaving you two.” Addy walked down the hall and out the door. She admitted, only to herself, she did want to see Nick. She wanted to see his progress with the playground. She wanted to see him. And she wanted to believe what her friends said. That he wanted to see her, too.

  God, what am I thinking? I’m just emotionally vulnerable right now. I’m graduated with no job prospects. Trevor and I broke up a little under two months ago. And I’m back at home, under my parents’ roof, and I’m simply reverting to my teenage years. That’s all this is, isn’t it?

  Addy sighed as she walked down the concrete stairs that led to the playground area. Val and Gracie laughed at something one of them said, and Addy hoped the twosome had decided to talk about something besides her and her love life. She stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to wait for them.

  A smile tugged at her lips as she drank in the side view of the sanctuary she’d grown up in. Resting at the top of a hill, the small brick building with its dark green roof still looked much the same as it did when she was a girl. However, since her childhood, the church had grown so much they’d had to add a Sunday school building and a fellowship hall. She loved the design, how the buildings seemed to walk down the left side of the sanctuary. The playground sat at the bottom of the hill, just outside the fellowship hall, a perfect setup for various activities involving food and games.

  “Are you two coming?” Addy called up to her friends.

  “I forgot my dishes in the car,” Val responded. “Gracie and I are going to go get them then bring them down to the kitchen. You go ahead.”

  “Okay.” Addy turned and walked around the building to the playground area. Nick and Mike held one of the slides against the ark while Drew bolted it into place. Within moments, the slide was attached, and Nick was thanking Drew and Mike for their help.

  Her heartbeat quickened as he instructed them about how to connect additional pieces. The excitement in his tone at the near completion of his project warmed her heart. Who Nick was as a person hadn’t changed in the years since she’d left River Run, but he’d matured and possibly softened a bit. And the knowledge of it attracted her to him more than ever before.

  ❧

  Nick couldn’t stop taking peeks at Addy sitting on one of the picnic tables beside the playground. Every few moments she and her friends would lean back in laughter. Her eyes seem to sparkle when she smiled. Her whole face lit up, drew a fellow in, making him smile without meaning to.

  She shooed a fly or bug of some kind away from her plate then picked up a brownie and bit into it. She nodded her approval and pulled off pieces for Val and Gracie. He couldn’t hear her, but he watched as she shared her approval with Ms. Cooper, one of the oldest and dearest members of their church and the maker of the brownies. Ms. Cooper beamed with pride. Nick found himself even more drawn to Addy when she scooted over on the bench to make room for the woman to join them.

  “You up for a game of cornhole?”

  Nick turned at the sound of Drew’s voice. Drew tossed the corn-filled beanbag in the air and caught it in his right hand. He hadn’t mentioned their earlier discussion, and Nick wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with his friend. The truth was, he didn’t know what to say. He was attracted to Addy, and the truth of it surprised and confused him, and yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wanted to pursue a possible relationship. At least he thought he did. But what would happen if that didn’t work out? Who’s to say she’d want to go out with me anyway? Maybe
I need to think about this some more. With my head and not my eyeballs. Just ’cause she comes home looking prettier than a spring sunrise doesn’t mean I need to go chasing after her.

  “Well?”

  He looked at Drew. “Of course I wanna play.”

  “All right then. I’m gonna give you and Mike a break since I’m always whooping up on the two of ya. You and Mike against me and Joe.”

  Nick sucked in his breath and squinted at his friend. “If I remember right, Joe beat you at cornhole last week, even though he is only twelve years old. So, I don’t think you taking Joe as a partner is going to make things easier for me and Mike.”

  Drew crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Fine. You take Joe, and I’ll take Mike.”

  “You know, guys, I am standing right here. I don’t like y’all talking about me like I’m not even here.”

  Nick turned. Mike was standing beside them, and Nick hadn’t even noticed. Poor Mike. He was a great buddy, but he did tend to lose every single bet the three of them ever made, and he was the worst cornhole player of the bunch, including his little brother. When Wyatt hung out with them more, at least Mike had a constant companion to lose with, but now that Wyatt had Gracie to take care of—well, Mike did a great deal of losing.

  Nick patted Mike’s shoulder, keeping his gaze locked with Drew. “No way, Drew. You can’t have Mike. He and I are going to show you how it’s done.”

  Before Drew could respond, Nick and Mike walked toward the two game platforms. Each one had a six-inch hole nine inches from the elevated end—just enough room to fit the corn-filled beanbags. Because they loved to play the game so much, Nick’s dad had built the game to the exact measurements—a two-foot-wide by four-foot-long piece of plywood made up each platform, elevated twelve inches at the far end and two inches at the near end. The platforms sat twenty-seven feet apart, exactly thirty-three feet from hole to hole. His mom had sewn the beanbags in patriotic colors, blue and white stars for one team, red and white stripes for the other.